VonDohren Earns 10th NASCAR 358-Modified Title At Grandview

Story By: ERNIE SAXTON / GRANDVIEW SPEEDWAY – BECHTELSVILLE, PA – For the 10th time in his legendary auto racing career Craig VonDohren is the TP Trailers NASCAR 358 Modified champion at Grandview Speedway. It is the third straight year that the Oley, PA driver topped the point standings at the popular one-third-mile, banked clay oval.

VonDohren and his Pioneer Pole Buildings sponsored team earned 4268 points and had two feature wins. Duane Howard, a multi time champion, scored 4032 points without benefit of a feature win to take second. Ten time champion Jeff Strunk, with just one feature win to his credit, finished third with 3957 counters. Mike Gular came home fourth in the standings with 3873 points while veteran Doug Manmiller grabbed fifth earning 3603 points.

There were 14 different Modified feature winners during the season while the track suffered through eight rainouts. Interesting to note that since 1999 VonDohren, Howard and Strunk are the only drivers to win the Modified title at Grandview Speedway.

In the Sportsman division Brian Hirthler, winner of a feature race early in the season, had consistent finishes that earned him 2961 counters and the 2017 NASCAR Sportsman title. Craig Whitmoyer came home second 2860 points followed by Brad Grim with 2826 points. The Sportsman division had 12 different feature winners.

And in the BRC Late Model competition Chuck Schutz earned his ninth championship with 2714 points and four feature wins. This was his third title win in a row. Second spot went to Bryon Sipe with 2533 tallies. Steve Todorow finished third in the standings with 3426 points.

Sixty racers took part in the Modified events this season while 51 earned points in the Sportsman competition and the Late Models had 27 drivers getting points.

Many of the top performers in dirt track Modified stock car racing will be racing in Saturday’s (September 16) 47th Annual Freedom 76 Modified Classic Run in Honor of Bruce Rogers. The race pays in excess of $30,000 to win.

Adult admission is $40 on race day with youngsters 6 thru 11 paying $10 and kids under 6 are admitted free. Admission for the pit area is $45 and no license is required.

On Friday night the Sportsman stock cars will be featured in the Freedom 38’er paying $1500 to win. Also featured on Friday night will be the Mid-Atlantic Sprint Series 305 Sprint cars. Modified racers are invited to run some practice laps. Admission for this event is $12 for adults, $5 for youngsters 6 through 11 and kids under 6 are admitted free.

Racing will get the green flag on both nights at 7 p.m.

At the Friday night event advance tickets for the Freedom 76 will be available for just $35.

September 23rd is the rain date for the Freedom 76 but there is no rain date for the Friday racing.